Unfortunately, COVID has made a comeback in New Zealand, with cases rising to several thousand per day across most parts of the country. 

Hospitalisations are starting to fall in New Zealand as the second Omicron wave comes to an end. All the same, lots of people are coming down with influenza, which is expected to continue circulating through to the end of winter. As a result, people are starting to feel wary about travelling on public transport and being in crowded environments again. This has put working from home back on the agenda. 

 

COVID in New Zealand 

Mask usage around New Zealand currently appears to be on and off. While schools were advised to implement face mask use when term three began, many workplaces are making their own decisions.

To share an example of what corporate brands are doing, Apple has decided to allow corporate staff to work without masks if they choose, and many city mayors are leaving mask usage up to personal choice.

Despite the general relaxation, the Arden government still heavily endorses the use of masks in accordance with their traffic light system.

As for working from home, the general consensus is that hybrid working is becoming a new norm. In New Zealand, employees are entitled to request to work from home. They must submit the request in writing but do not have to state the reason for the request. New Zealand employers, on the other hand, have to have a reasonable explanation for denying a work-from-home request.

Some parties, however, would like to see a return to the workplace. Auckland’s Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett, for instance, worries about the situation of retailers and food service providers in Aukland’s business centre.  He says, “Probably the best thing that could happen in the city right now is if government and government agencies all brought their people back. Government is the largest employer, so if they brought their people back, that would make a difference to what is happening in the centre of Auckland.”

 

The choice is yours

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is yet to issue a firm directive around working from home or mask mandates in New Zealand workplaces. Ardern has had more to say on mask usage in school recently than in the workplace. She was quoted as saying, “Ultimately here we have said we are not making it compulsory but we are strongly encouraging use.” With the traffic light system set to orange though, outside of the mandated areas such as public transport and indoor retail spaces, the choice is up to the employer.

As a company that employs New Zealanders, it is up to executives and team members to decide what’s best for people and what’s possible. 

When it comes to vaccines and boosters, some workers still need to be vaccinated but it does depend on the work they do and their workplace. You can see more information about mandatory vaccination in New Zealand here.

Along with working from home and asking people to wear masks, the other thing to consider is allowing staff time off work so they can go and get a booster shot. 

Finally, as a business, you still have to accommodate isolation rules for those who do test positive for COVID. Under current guidelines, someone who tests positive must stay at home for at least seven days or until they have no symptoms. According to Employment New Zealand, employees are entitled to a reasonable time away from work for vaccinations and that includes booster shots.

You’ll find information about the current orders for people who test positive for COVID here.

 

When in doubt…

If you’re unclear about how to respond to New Zealand’s current COVID outlook, you can always speak with your PEO. We are always up to date with the latest news, mandates and recommendations. 

 

Need to get in touch with a PEO in New Zealand? Contact ANZPEO today.